Be transported back in time to the Golden Age of a Bar Harbor—without sacrificing modern amenities—at the Van Loan Cottage!  Mount Desert Island has long been a haven for artists, and in 1936 Philadelphia artist Dorothy “Dido” Van Loan and her brother and sister built the Van Loan Cottage as a summer retreat and art studio. It is only five minutes from the main entrance to Acadia National Park and eight minutes from downtown Bar Harbor, but a quiet, nostalgic world away.  Frenchman Bay is visible from the driveway, and the cottage is close enough to enjoy the cool ocean breeze from the screened porch. A few hundred yards down the quiet road there is access to a private rocky beach (a little bit of hike down a path), exclusively for use by the neighborhood association and guests of The Van Loan Cottage! Kayak and hunt for sea glass on your own stretch of shore!  You will not find a property that more fully captures the feeling of costal Maine or the romantic past of Bar Harbor.

After a loving two-year restoration, the property has been upgraded to accommodate vacationer's needs while maintaining its historic charm.  The restored original main cottage has a great “old camp” feel (have you seen the Magnolia network show?), decorated with local antiques and folk art pieces. It features a large open great room with a queen bed and a double bed, which also serve as daybeds for family seating and lounging during the day. An atmospheric screen porch has a comfortable wicker couch and two oversize wicker chairs. Dorothy’s former loft studio serves as a fun play area for the kids and a gallery for several of her old works (some from her private collection, never before seen in public!) The restored kitchen is fully functional, and there is a full bath with a claw foot tub/shower combo.  

The former garage—hand-built by brother Seth from salvaged materials—has been converted into a rustic/luxe master suite! The suite features a king bed, a comfortable sitting area with wicker rocker and gas stove, and a small dining table for two. The spacious master bath has a large hand-built vanity, a claw foot tub/shower combo, and ample storage space. A combo washer/dryer unit, Keurig coffee maker, and mini-fridge make the master suite a self-contained retreat for a couple (or Mom and Dad). 

Just outside the back door of the master suite, a romantic outdoor sitting area under a sweet pergola is a great place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine. The yard features a natural stone firepit and a grassy lawn large enough for kids and pets to play, or for a mean game of badminton or croquet! Natural landscaping and gravel paths make the rest of the yard feel like a transplanted corner of Acadia National Park. 

The Van Loan Cottage was even featured in a magazine article: https://savingplaces.org/stories/preserving-a-tiny-cottage-in-maine-helped-one-busy-couple-unwind#.XO_h-NNKj1J

Amenities include a 42” flat screen TV, BlueRay player, WIFI, portable A/C window units in each cabin, a small washer/dryer combo, gas BBQ, microwave, Keurig coffeemaker in the master and drip coffee maker in the main cottage, and an outdoor picnic table. There is parking for up to two cars. Click here for more complete list of household items/amenities.

Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park offer visitors a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, boating, lake swimming, carriage road walks, horse back riding, deep sea fishing! Visit the Abbe Museum, sail on the Margaret Todd, take a Jackson Lab visitors tour, enjoy tea and popovers at the Jordan Pond House, golf at a PGA top-rated course, play tennis. Kids activities include water park, miniature golf, beaches, and lots of ice cream shops!

Dog permitted.

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Click here for full gallery of picturesWalk to nearby shore access